Human papillomavirus vaccination in the resourced and resource-constrained world

Abstract

Human papillomavirus has been established as the causal agent for cervical cancer. The identification of a clear cause presents an unparalleled opportunity for cancer control. As such, the development of prophylactic human papillomavirus vaccines has been rightly hailed as one of the significant scientific triumphs of the past 20 years. This story of scientific triumph over disease, however, is not yet complete. The fruit of scientific labour must be delivered to the people in order to fulfil the underlying intent of the research (i.e. to prevent cancer and save lives). The success of a vaccination programme, however, does not depend on the biological efficacy of the vaccine alone. Various other local factors, such as poverty, gender inequality, cultural traditions, or religious beliefs, can significantly constrain the success of any vaccination programme. In this chapter, we provide an overview of how the human papillomavirus vaccine works and its global uptake, as well as, how variations in local contexts can affect the successful implementation of a vaccination programme. Other factors besides vaccine costs also need serious attention. With better understanding of such factors, policy makers and medical health professionals will be better equipped to make informed decisions to maximise the potential benefits of the human papillomavirus vaccines for the most number of people in individual countries.